Tebbitoby



(No Model.)

L. B. WELLS.

SGRBENED GHUTE 0R WATER WAY.

Patented Apr. 20,1886,

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PATENT I LEVI B. \VEIJLS, OF HELENA, MONTANA TERRITORY.

SCREENED CHUTE QR WATER-WAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,264, dated April 20, 1886.

I Application filed August 29, 1884. Serial No. 141,747. (No model) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEVI B. Wants, a citizen of the United States, residing at Helena, in the county of Lewis and Clarke and Territory of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Screened Chutes or Water-'Ways; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters andfigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to screened chutes or water-ways, whereby the sand in muddy or running water may be separated from the water and delivered in condition for use by build ers and others.

It consists in the novel feature more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is atop plan view, Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view, and Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, of a portion of a chute or water-way provided with my improvements. Fig. 4 is a detached section,enlarged, I

of the screen.

The chute or way A may be of ordinary construction, and in practice is inclined about as shown in Fig. 3. The bottom A of this chute has an opening, A", cut through it. Over this opening I secure the screening-plate B, which is provided with a number of perforations or slots, B. In use, experiment has sh0wn,when these holes are formed square or round, or with wire with square or elongated holes in the direction of the chute, that the flow of the water will force small pebblesinto said openings, where they will become lodged and obstruct the exit of sand. To obviate this difficulty I form the perforations B in metallic plates oblong and elongated transversely of the direction of the chute. By this formation I find the sand will pass freely out of the perforations, and pebbles and like ohstacles do not become lodged in and close the openings. This transverse elongation also prevents the formation of eddies resulting from the use of circular openings, which eddies are undesirable, in that they cause the said openings to fill with pebbles.

It will be noticed that I form the screen with a number of depressions, B", and convexities, and that the perforations are formed through the plate at the base of such depressions. The object of these depressions, which are also transverse of the direction of the chute, is twofold. In the first place they serve as delays, stopping andagitating the sand on the screenplate and rendering morecertain the passage of the same through the perforations B. Another object and advantage of such depressions is that they form ripplesin the water near the bottom, which facilitate the precipitation of the sand onto the screen. I therefore prefer to form the plate with such depressions, and I also prefer to form the perforations at the bases thereof, as such arrangement prevents the filling of the depressions with pebbles and keeps them always clear and so as to operate in the manner specified.

By the use of my improvement the sand is separated from the water and deposited through the screen,while the water, by reason of its momentum and force, passes over the plate, as will be understood.

I design to use my invention for the purpose of separating fine building-sand from muddy water, from mining'tailings, or other water containing sand, and deliver said sand fit for buildingpurposes without the necessity of further screening.

It will be noticed that the perforations are made in parallel rows or sections, and that the perforations of one section come opposite that portion of the plate between the openings of the adjacent sections, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. That portion of the plate between the two openings ofa section is convex on its up per side parallel with the openings. Thus the convex portions of each section come directly opposite the perforations of the adjacent sections. A screen of this production will pro duce a rippling and agitation of the water and effect a thorough precipitation of the sand.

I am aware that metallic plates have been fluted, producing alternately a rib and depression, and that perforations have been formed in the bottoms of such depressions. Plates have also been provided with perforations, which are arranged in parallel rows or sections, the perforationsof one section coming opposite the imperforate portions of the adjacent sections; Such construction is disolaimed as forming a part of my invention.

Having thus described my invention,what I 5 claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

The herein described chute or water-way, I

jacent rows, substantially as and for the pun poses set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEVI B. \VELLS.

Witnesses:

J OHN J. GARVIN, MAssENA BULLARD. 

